Fincantieri cuts steel of 1st forward section for French Navy’s LSS newbuilds

The steel cutting of the first forward section for four logistic support ships (LSS) ordered by Chantiers de l’Atlantique to Fincantieri under the FLOTLOG program took place at the Castellammare di Stabia shipyard in Naples, Italy, earlier this month.

Under a contract awarded to Fincantieri last year, the four sections will be built at the Castellammare di Stabia shipyard with deliveries scheduled between 2021 and 2027.

The FLOTLOG program will see the construction of four new logistic support ships for the French Navy, by the temporary consortium between Chantiers de l’Atlantique and Naval Group under the Franco-Italian LSS Program led by the Organisation for Joint Armament Co-operation (OCCAR) on behalf of DGA, the French Armament General Directorate, and its Italian counterpart, NAVARM.

Last month, the first steel plate of the hull of the first LSS was cut in a ceremony at Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard, marking the start of the construction of the first newbuild.

This cooperation between Chantiers de l’Atlantique and Fincantieri is part of the broader Franco-Italian alliance in the naval surface ship domain.

With a capacity of 13,000 cbm, the newbuilds will provide logistical support to the combat vessels of the French Navy. They carry fuel, ammunition, spare parts, as well as food for the vessels.

They will feature a length of 194 meters, a width of 27.6 meters and a of 31,000 tons. They will be able to accommodate 190 people, including 130 crew members and 60 passengers.

Scheduled for delivery from late 2022 to 2029, the ships will replace the French Navy’s single-hulled Durance-class replenishment ships which entered service in the 1970s and 80s.